The Enemy's Daughter

Only if you behave

Alessandro led me down the long hallway, his footsteps quiet and controlled. Mine, on the other hand, echoed against the marble floor, making me feel exposed in the vastness of his mansion. My mind raced, searching for a way to regain some sense of control in this situation. But all I could do was follow, for now.

We stopped in front of a large wooden door at the far end of the hallway. Alessandro paused, his hand on the handle as he glanced back at me with a small, unreadable smile. “I think you’ll find this interesting.”

I arched an eyebrow, crossing my arms. “I doubt that.”

He simply smirked and pushed the door open, stepping aside for me to enter first. My eyes widened as I walked in. The room was massive, far too big to be just a bedroom, but that wasn’t what caught my attention. It was the wardrobe—a walk-in closet that could easily rival a high-end boutique.

Rows upon rows of clothes lined the walls, from casual outfits to evening gowns that looked like they belonged on a runway. Shelves of shoes, racks of designer bags, and even a jewelry display sat at the far end of the room.

I blinked, momentarily stunned. “What… is this?”

Alessandro leaned against the doorframe, watching my reaction with mild amusement. “You didn’t exactly come prepared. I thought you might need a few things.”

I turned to face him, incredulous. “You mean to tell me, in the middle of kidnapping me, you took the time to buy me clothes?”

He shrugged nonchalantly. “You weren’t exactly kidnapped with luggage in tow. I assumed you’d appreciate not wearing the same thing every day.”

I couldn’t help it—despite the absurdity of the situation, a laugh escaped my lips. “So, you’re saying I’ve been kidnapped with the finest wardrobe money can buy? How thoughtful.”

Alessandro’s smirk widened, clearly enjoying my reaction. “I like to think of myself as a considerate host.”

“Host? Right. Because this is a vacation,” I said dryly, waving a hand at the rows of clothes. “What’s next? A spa day?”

He chuckled, a sound that sent an involuntary shiver down my spine. “Only if you behave.”

I rolled my eyes but couldn’t resist taking another glance around the room. As ridiculous as it was, there was something almost surreal about being held captive in a mansion with a wardrobe full of luxury clothing. It was like some twisted version of “Beauty and the Beast.”

I turned back to Alessandro, determined not to let him see how overwhelmed I was. “You went through all this trouble for me? I’m flattered.”

“I figured you’d want to feel comfortable,” he said, his tone casual but his eyes watching me carefully. “Or at least as comfortable as one can be in your situation.”

“Well,” I said, my fingers brushing over the fabric of a silk dress on one of the racks, “if you’re expecting a thank you, you’re going to be waiting a while.”

“I wouldn’t dream of it,” Alessandro replied, a hint of amusement still in his voice. “But if you do decide to take advantage of it, I won’t hold it against you.”

I crossed my arms again, still feeling off-balance. “You think you can buy me off with some designer clothes?”

He shook his head slowly, his smile fading just a little. “No, Elena. I’m not trying to buy you off. I know this doesn’t change anything. But I also know you deserve more than being stuck in the same outfit for days.”

I hesitated, caught between wanting to snap back at him and the strange sense of vulnerability that his words stirred in me. It was ridiculous—he was my captor. The man who kidnapped me. Yet here he was, offering me a wardrobe as if that made everything better.

“And what’s the catch?” I asked, narrowing my eyes. “There’s always a catch.”

Alessandro tilted his head, as if considering my question carefully. “No catch. Just trying to make your stay... less unbearable.”

“Less unbearable,” I repeated, the corners of my mouth twitching despite myself. “You really think highly of your hospitality, don’t you?”

“I do,” he said smoothly. “But if you don’t like the selection, I could always return it and let you figure it out.”

I glanced around at the sheer amount of clothing again and shook my head. “Oh, please. Don’t go to that much trouble on my account,” I said, sarcasm dripping from my words.

He chuckled softly, stepping forward and moving past me, his hand briefly brushing my arm. I tensed at the contact but didn’t pull away. Alessandro opened another door within the closet, revealing an adjoining bathroom.

“Your personal bathroom,” he said. “It’s all yours. I’ll have someone bring your meals to the room.”

I crossed my arms, leaning against the doorframe as he moved back toward the bedroom. “How generous. Do I get a key, too?”

Alessandro’s eyes sparkled with amusement as he shook his head. “You won’t be needing one. I’ll know where you are at all times.”

“Of course you will,” I muttered under my breath. I was starting to understand that everything in this place—no matter how grand—was just another cage. A luxury prison.

He stepped back into the main room, watching me for a moment before speaking. “I’ll leave you to get settled. If you need anything—”

“I won’t,” I cut him off.

He smiled again, but this time it didn’t quite reach his eyes. “Suit yourself. But just know, Elena, this room? It’s the least of what I’ve planned for you.”

I frowned, my heart skipping a beat at the way he said it. “What is that supposed to mean?”

Alessandro gave me one last look, a mixture of mystery and something unreadable. “You’ll find out soon enough. For now, get comfortable. This is only the beginning.”

With that, he turned and left, closing the door behind him. The sound of the lock clicking into place echoed in the room, leaving me alone with nothing but my thoughts—and a wardrobe full of designer clothes.